Lift truck apparatus for manipulating storage drums

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for use on lift trucks to handle cylindrical loads, such as barrels or storage drums, which apparatus is capable of gripping and lifting one drum or one or more pairs of drums at a time and of executing a wrist-type action which permits rotating the entire load through 360* about a horizontal axis and orienting each pair of drums through 120* with respect to each other. The apparatus embodies on or more sets of clamping means comprising two cooperating gripping jaws pivoted to the end of an arm on a support member. A first actuating means is fixed to the support member for pivoting one jaw of the set relative to the support member and a second actuating means is fixed to the first jaw for pivoting the other jaw relative to the first. The second actuating means control the gripping motion of the apparatus and the first actuating means rotates each pair of drums through 120* about the line of tangency. This rotation is permitted by spacing the end of the arm at least a drum width from the support member. The support member is mounted for vertical translation and complete rotation on the mast of the lift truck to provide the other manipulative capabilities.

United States Patent 172] lnventor Jerry Fred Burton Box 198-A, Route#8, Lexington, N.C. 27292 121] Appl. No. 797,186

[22] Filed Feb. 6, 1969 [45] Patented June 8, 1971 [54] LIFT TRUCKAPPARATUS FOR MANIPULATING 655,149,147, 674, 673, 672, 701, 701 R, 653,654, l RCM, l P, 1 PL,3, 1 B3, 1 B4; 294/8722,

Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-George F. AbrahamAttorneys-Robert S. Dunham, P. E. Henninger, Lester W. Clark, Gerald W.Griffin, Thomas F. Moran, Howard J. Churchill, R. Bradlee Boal,Christopher C. Dunham and Thomas P. Dowd ABSTRACT: An apparatus for useon lift trucks to handle cylindrical loads, such as barrels or storagedrums, which apparatus is capable of gripping and lifting one drum orone or more pairs of drums at a time and of executing a wrist-typeaction which permits rotating the entire load through 360about ahorizontal axis and orienting each pair of drums through 120 withrespect to each other. The apparatus embodies on 8724, 106 or more setsof clamping means comprising two cooperating gripping aws pivoted to theend of an arm on a support [56] References Cited member. A firstactuating means is fixed to the support UNITED STATES PATENTS member forpivoting one jaw of the set relative to the support member and a secondactuating means is fixed to the first jaw 322: for pivoting the otherjaw relative to the first. The second ac- 3322456 5/1967 294/88 tuatingmeans control the gripping motion of the apparatus 3460329 8/1969294/88) and the first actuating means rotates each pair of drums 27060604/1955 Femmo 214/652 through 120 about the line of tangency. Thisrotation is permitted by spacing the end of the arm at least a drumwidth 3,295,882 1/1967 Wallberg 214/654 from the pp member. The ppmember is mounted FOREIGN PATENTS for vertical translation and completerotation on the mast of 1,076,562 2/1960 Germany 214/653 the lift truckto provide the other manipulative capabilities.

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PATENTEUJUN" e197:

SHEET 1 OF 4 Tic]. E

INVENTOR.

J. FRED BURTON ")iu); (2M

- ATTORNEV PATENTEDJUN 8l97l 3,5 3 5 5 SHEET 2 OF 4 PATENTEU JUN 81% 3,583, 586

sum 3 OF 4 LIFT TRUCK APPARATUS FOR MANIPULATING STORAGE DRUMSCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The apparatus of the presentinvention may be used in connection with the method and apparatusdisclosed in my copending application, Ser. No. 802,775 filed Feb. 27,I969, entitled Method and Apparatus for Assembling Cylinders in aMinimum Space, and Product of That Method and Apparatus, and assigned tothe same assignee as the present invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the fieldof handling and transporting heavy loads and more particularly to meansfor lifting and manipulating large cylinders such as storage drums.

In the handling oflarge cylindrical objects such as barrels or storagedrums, it is quite desirable when large numbers of such drums are to bestored that a maximum utilization of the storage space available beattained. Also, ease and rapidity of moving and stacking such drums orconversely removing them from a stack is desirable and can be ofsignificant economic importance. Various devices have been designed tofacilitate the lifting, transporting, and manipulation of suchcylindrical loads, the most common of which is the conventional lifttruck. This type of truck is equipped with an elevator or mast on whichthe load engaging apparatus is mounted. For example, in US. Pat. No.2,815,878 issued to R. G. Vance on Dec. 10, 1957, a cylinder or rollhandling mechanism is disclosed, which is adapted to be attached to alift truck to clamp, lift and lower and by angular or rotationaldisplacement, change the position of a heavy cylindrical object which isbeing taken in or out of a storage facility. The disclosed load handlingmechanism comprises a clamping means, mounted on an upright elevator ormast, and constructed of two jaws that are capable of gripping a largecylinder and elevating it to any given position along the track of theelevator structure. The clamping means is hydraulically actuated and isattached to a turntable which rides on the elevator column. When thecylinder is lifted from a rest position, the turntable is capable ofrotating it from a vertical to a horizontal orientation or of completelyinverting it. The clamping means provides a firm grip on the cylinderbetween its grippingjaws without the need for physical contact orassistance on the part of the operator. However, this particular type ofcylinder-handling mechanism is limited in its design and function togripping and moving an individual cylinder into and out of a stackingarrangement, and to reorienting it only about the turntable axis, sothat generally the cylinder is simply transferred from one area of thestorage facility to another area singly and without regard for specificpositioning within a given stack.

By contrast, a later US. Fat. to E. K. Hanson, No. 3,172,693, dated Mar.9, I965, discloses a prior art assembly for handling cylindrical loadswhich is capable of lifting and transporting more than one cylinder at atime. In the Hanson embodiment, a barrel grab assembly is mounted on thecan riage ofa forklift vehicle. The assembly has a pair ofcylinderengaging jaw units which are pivotally mounted on mutuallyinclined axes and are axially adjustable to accommodate barrels ofvarious sizes. It is thus possible with the Hanson assembly to lift morethan one cylinderto a selected height while it is firmly held betweenthe jaws. The lifting movement of the assembly is controlled by theupward or downward movement of a hydraulic actuator contained within theelevator. A pair of actuators is provided to transmit the compressivegripping force to the jaws which encircle the cylinders and are capableof lifting or changing the cylinders to any position or to a selectedheight or angle with respect to a horizontal axis.

In neither of the aforesaid assemblies, however, or in any other priorart apparatus are means presented which enable the operator to grip oneor more pairs of cylinders, elevate or lower them, and also rotate themabout their line of tangency as well as a horizontal axis. An apparatuswith such capabilities is the subject of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The apparatus of the present invention embodiesa means for lifting cylindrical objects such as barrels or storage drumssingly or in one or more pairs and manipulating each pair with a wristtype action which permits rotation through 360 about a horizontal axisand through as much as [20 about their line of tangency. The apparatuscomprises one or more sets of clamping means, each having twocooperating gripping jaws pivoted to a support member. A first actuatingmeans such as a hydraulic cylinder is fixed to the support member andpivots one jaw of the set relative to the support member. A secondactuating means is fixed to this first jaw and pivots the other jawrelative to either the first jaw or the support member. The secondactuating means produce the gripping motion of the jaws and the firstactuating means produces the rotation of the drums about their line oftangency. The jaws are pivoted to the end of an extension on the supportmember, the pivot point being spaced at least a drum width from thesupport member. The support member is mounted for vertical translationand complete rotation on the elevator or mast of a lift truck to providethe other manipulative capabilities. The truck mast may also be madepivotable about a horizontal axis.

The apparatus is particularly useful for stacking and rearranging largenumbers of storage drums such as when it is desired to transfer suchdrums from a regular to a staggered configuration or from a horizontalto a vertical orientation or into any of the various combinationsthereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The apparatus of the present inventionwill now be described in detail with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus of the present inventionmounted on a conventional lift truck and being used to load or unloadstorage drums on a transporting truck;

FIG. 2 is a view as in FIG. I with the apparatus lowered and rotatedabout a horizontal axis;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one form of the apparatus showing thedetails of the clamping means with hydraulic actuating means closing thegrippingjaws on four drums;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the gripping jaws in FIG. 3 holding onlyone drum;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternate form of the apparatuswherein additional holding plate means are interposed between the drumsbeing held;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation partially broken away of the apparatus ofFIG. 5 showing the movement of the added holding plates in an unloadingoperation;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 5 showing the sequentialpositioning of two pairs of drums adjacent a group of drums stored in astaggered configuration by pivoting the pairs of drums about their lineof tangency and with respect to the longitudinal axis of the lift truck;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 5 shown gripping asingle drum; and

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of another embodiment of the apparatus havingdiscontinuous grippingjaws.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 shows the apparatus of the present inventionin a normal operational environment. A lift truck 1, having a mast 2upon which the apparatus 3 is mounted, is shown in position for removingsome upper drums from a number of storage drums 4a, 4b4m, 4n stacked onthe rear bed 5 ofa transport truck 6. The drums 4a--4n are stacked ontheir sides, end to end, in a regular configuration. A clamping means 7,which is part of the apparatus 3, and comprises the gripping jaws 8 and9, is positioned above the upper drums 4a and 4b and these drums aregripped by the jaws, 8 and 9, through the action of hydraulic actuatingcylinders and 11. When the drums 4a and 3b have been gripped, they maybe lifted from the truck 6 by raising the support frame 12 to which thegripping jaws, 8 and 9, are attached. The raising of the support frame12 is accomplished by the elevator 13 on the lift truck mast 2, on whichelevator 1.3 the support frame 12 is rotatably mounted. The supportframe mounting is in the form of a baseplate 15 on a turntable 16 whichpermits the support frame 12 and thus the attached gripping jaws, 8 and9, to be rotated through a full 360 about the turntable axis. The mast 2may be pivotally mounted on the lift truck I and its position adjustedby a hydraulic cylinder 60.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the drums 4a and 4b have been lifted from thetruck E, they may be stacked in a vertical position with their ends onthe ground by rotating the turntable 16 through an arc of 90 andlowering the support frame 12 by means of the elevator 13 on the lifttruck mast 2. It is also seen in this figure that another set ofgripping jaws, 8a and 9a, may be provided on the support frame 12 sothat two additional drums, 4c and 4d or a total of four drums may behandled at the same time.

The details of construction of the clamping means 7 shown in FIG. 2 arebetter seen with reference to FIG. 3. The support frame 12 isconstructed of the backplate 15 with two arms 17 and 18, on its oppositeends. The outer ends of the arms, 17 and 18, are connected by a crossbar19 which contains a pivot shaft 20 for mounting the set of clampingmeans 7. Two sets of clamping means 7 and 7a are shown and eachcomprises two jaws, 8, 9 and 8a, 90, respectively, which are pivoted onthe ends of the pivot shaft 20 which extend from the support frame arms17 and 18. An arcuate gripping plate or pad 21 is provided on each ofthe jaws to partially surround and engage the drums 4a-4d which are tobe handled.

The inner or proxial jaws 9 and 9a of the two clamping means 7 and 7aare connected by means of a crossbar or yoke 22 which is attached torespective tabs, 23 and 23a, fixed on the gripping pads 21. Thehydraulic cylinder 11 is mounted on a crossbar 24 fixed to the supportframe arms 17 and I8 and has its piston rod 25 operatively connected tothe yoke 22. Each of the clamping means 7 and 7a is also provided withan hydraulic cylinder 10 and 10a which is fixed to a pivot 28 on theinner jaws 9 and 9a and has a piston rod 26 and 26a connected to theouter or distal jaws 3 and 8a by pivot 29.

In operating the clamping means, 7 and 7a, the cylinders 10 and 10a areused to open and close the jaws in the gripping action and the cylinder11 acts to pivot the cooperating jaws with respect to the support framearms, 17 and 18. The cylinder 11 is connected to the inner jaws, 9 and9a, in such manner as to pivot the clamping means 7 and 7a through asmuch as 120 about the axis defined by the support frame crossbar 19.This is accomplished by spacing the pivot axis at least a drum widthfrom the backplate l5 and cutting out portions 90 and 80 of the supportarms 17 and 13 to accommodate the gripping pads and drums.

Also, as shown in FIG. 4, the jaws of either of the clamping means 7 or7a may be pivoted by the rods 26 or 26a of cylinders 10 and 10a to anextent to grip a single drum, such as 4a, when desired, instead of twodrums as shown in the prior figure. Thus, one through four, or more,drums may be handled by the present clamping means as will be clear uponconsidering obvious variations in operation and construction of theapparatus, such as by individual operation of the cylinders 10 and 10aand by increasing the number of clamping means.

A modification of the clamping means of the present invention is shownin FIG. 5. The gripping pads 31 in this embodiment may be of a smallerarcuate size, as compared with the former pads, 21, by the use of anadditional structure comprising a tongue 32 connecting two arcuateholding plates 33 and 34. The tongue 32 is mounted for pivoting on thesupport arm by pivot pin 50 along with the respective gripping jaws. Inthis embodiment, pivot pins 50 are used by in either case both pins 50or shaft 20 are suitable for mounting thejaws and tongue. Also, theplates 31 and plates 33 and 34 are shown as integral units but it willbe seen that they may be constructed in disconnected pairs in the mannerof the pads 21 in FIG. 3.

As seen in FIG. 6 when the gripping jaws, 8 and 9, are placed about twojuxtaposed drums 4m and 4n, the junction point 35 of the holding plates33 and 34 will engage and ride along the upper surface of one of thedrums pivoting the tongue 32 so that the holding plates 33 and 34 fallinto place engaging the adjacent surfaces of the drums. The grippingaction of the two jaws 8 and 9 force the drums 4m and 4n against theholding plates 33 and 34 achieving a tight and secure grip on the drums.

The illustration of the gripping operation in FIG. 6 when taken withthat of FIG. 7 will give a clear understanding of the manipulativecapabilities of the clamping means of the present invention. FIG. 6shows the transport truck 6 of FIG. 1 partially unloaded and with twojuxtaposed drums 4m and 4n lying on their sides on the rear bed 5. Itwill be understood, of course, that other drums may be lying end to endwith these drums as previously described. When the drums are to beunloaded, the lift truck 1 fitted with the improved clamping means 7 isbrought alongside the truck 6. By lowering the elevator 13 on the truckmast 2, the pads 31 on the gripping jaws, 8 and 9, are placed about theouter sides of the two drums, 41m and 4n, with the holding plates, 33and 34, riding into engagement with the inner sides. Again, it will beunderstood that four drums may be gripped simultaneously as shown inFIG. 5.

The gripped drums, 4m and 4n, are then removed from the truck bed 5 byraising the elevator 13. They may be transported in the horizontalposition or if preferred in the vertical position by rotating theclamping means 7, through an arc of 90 about the horizontal. Thisrotation is achieved by means of the turntable 16 mounted on theelevator 13. Before and after the desired rotation, a line A joining thecenters of the drums 4m and 4n, and perpendicular to their line oftangency C, will be aligned with the longitudinal axis B of the lifttruck 1. Upon arriving at the area where the drums 4m and 4n are to bestored, the elevator 13 may be lowered and the drums 4m and 4n placed ina regular configuration with those that have been already stacked forstorage. However, it is frequently desirable to stagger the stackingconfiguration for greater space utilization. In such event, the rod 25of cylinder 11 may be extended to pivot the gripping jaws 8 and 9 aboutpivot 50 and reorient the line A joining the center of drums 4m and 4n,by a desired amount such as 60 with respect to the longitudinal axis Bof the lift truck 1 as shown in FIG. 7. However, it will be seen, as inthe case of the previously positioned drums 4a and 4b, that the drumsmay be pivoted by as much as l20 about their line of tangency C andrespectively seat at the ends of the arcuate path in the cutout portionsand in the support arm 17.

Now, the manipulative capabilities of the improved clamping means 7 maybe fully appreciated if in considering the arrangement shown in FIG. 7,the turntable 16 is rotated through 180 while the drums 4a and 4b arebeing gripped. The drums 4a and 4b would then be turned over andoriented at a 60 angle on the opposite side of the lift trucklongitudinal axis B in the respective positions of drums 4n and 4m.Thus, a pair of drums, such as the drums 4a and 4b, while held in theclamping means 7 may be rotated through 360 about a horizontal axisparallel to the longitudinal axis B of the lift truck 1 and orientedabout their line of tangency, that is, with respect to each otherthrough an arc of or if turned over, through as much as 240. Pivoting ofthe mast 2 by the cylinder 60, shown in FIG. 1, adds a furthermanipulative capability.

It will be seen in FIG. 7 that a pair of drums may be placed on eitherside of the stacking pattern by pivoting them through either 60 or 120,with respect to the axis B without the need for turning them over. Thisfeature is of importance when handling drums which have a definite topand bottom and cannot be stored upside down.

It also should be noted that the sequence of stacking the drums in astaggered pattern is important to avoid interference between theclamping means 7 and the previously stacked drums. [f in FIG. 7 drums 4mand 4n are put in place before drums 4a and 4b, the outer pair 8 of theclamping means 7 will be interposed between drums 4n and 40 when it isattempted to place drums 4a and 4b in the stack. A method for properlyand efficiently stacking the drums with the apparatus of the presentinvention is disclosed in my copending application, Ser. No. 802,775filed Feb. 27, 1969 and assigned the same assignee as the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 shows the embodiment of the clamping means of FIG 5 gripping asingle drum 4n. Since the tongue 32 is free to pivot on the pivot pin50, the holding surface 33 or 34, which first contacts the drum surfacewill ride on and engage the upper surface of the gripped drum 4nproviding three point gripping contact.

FIG. 9 shows a further modified embodiment of the clamping means of thepresent invention wherein dual gripping pads 41a and 41b are used oneach of the grippingjaws 8 and 9. The pads 4111 at the outer ends of thejaws grip two cylinders 4a and 4b between them through the action ofhydraulic cylinder 10 and the two inner pads 41b act somewhat in themanner of the holding plates 33 and 34 in the prior embodiment.

It will thus be seen that in improved apparatus for use on lift trucksto handle one or more pairs of generally cylindrical loads, such asbarrels or drums, is provided with improved load manipulatingcapabilities which permit the load to be rotated through 360 about ahorizontal axis, and each pair of drums to be oriented through 120 ormore with respect to each other, thereby enabling the drums to bestacked in various space-saving configurations. ln addition, since morethan one drum may be handled at a time, the time and number ofoperations required for unloading and storing cylindrical loads issignificantly reduced over that which can be achieved by the prior artload handling means.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for lifting and manipulating storage cylinders comprising:

a. a support means;

b. first and second cylinder-engaging means pivotable with respect tosaid support means and comprising arcuate members which cooperate toengage the surfaces of two juxtaposed cylinders opposite their line oftangency;

c. third cylinder-engaging means pivotable with respect to said supportmeans and comprising arcuate members which cooperate to engage thesurfaces of said juxtaposed cylinders adjacent their line of tangency;

d. first actuator means connected between said support means and saidfirst cylinder-engaging means for controllably pivoting said firstcylinder-engaging means relative to said support means;

e. second actuator means connected between said first cylinder-engagingmeans and said second cylinder-engaging means for controllably pivotingsaid second cylinderengaging means relative to said firstcylinder-engaging means; and

f. an extension on said support means having pivot means on which saidfirst, second and third cylinder-engaging means are each pivoted, saidpivot means being spaced from said support means by at least the widthof a cylinder to be manipulated to permit a cylinder adjacent saidsupport means to be grasped by said first and second cylinder-engagingmeans and pivoted through an are greater than about the axis of saidpivot means.

2. An apparatus for use on a lift truck elevator to lift and manipulateone or more pairs of drums about two transverse axes comprising:

a. a turntable mounted on the elevator;

b. a support mounted on said turntable for rotation therewith through atleast 90;

c. an extension on said support having pivot means thereon spaced atleast a drum width from said support;

d first and second gripping jaws each pivoted on said pivot means; drumgripping members on each of said aws, having portions spaced at least adrum width from said pivot means and cooperating to respectively engagethe outer surfaces of twojuxtaposed drums;

f. means pivoted on said pivot means for engaging the surfaces of saidjuxtaposed cylinders adjacent their line of tangency',

g. a first actuator connected to said support for pivoting said firstgripping jaw relative to said support through at least 30; and

. a second actuator connected between said first gripping jaw and saidsecond gripping jaw for pivoting said second gripping jaw relative tosaid first gripping jaw to cooperatively engage two juxtaposed cylindersbetween said gripping members.

1. Apparatus for lifting and manipulating storage cylinders comprising:a. a support means; b. first and second cylinder-engaging meanspivotable with respect to said support means and comprising arcuatemembers which cooperate to engage the surfaces of two juxtaposedcylinders opposite their line of tangency; c. third cylinder-engagingmeans pivotable with respect to said support means and comprisingarcuate members which cooperate to engage the surfaces of saidjuxtaposed cylinders adjacent their line of tangency; d. first actuatormeans connected between said support means and said firstcylinder-engaging means for controllably pivoting said firstcylinder-engaging means relative to said support means; e. secondactuator means connected between said first cylinderengaging means andsaid second cylinder-engaging means for controllably pivoting saidsecond cylinder-engaging means relative to said first cylinder-engagingmeans; and f. an extension on said support means having pivot means onwhich said first, second and third cylinder-engaging means are eachpivoted, said pivot means being spaced from said support means by atleast the width of a cylinder to be manipulated to permit a cylinderadjacent said support means to be grasped by said first and secondcylinder-engaging means and pivoted through an arc greater than 90*about the axis of said pivot means.
 2. An apparatus for use on a lifttruck elevator to lift and manipulate one or more pairs of drums abouttwo transverse axes comprising: a. a turntable mounted on the elevator;b. a support mounted on said turntable for rotation therewith through atleast 90*; c. an extension on said support having pivot means thereonspaced at least a drum width from said support; d. first and secondgripping jaws each pivoted on said pivot means; e. drum gripping memberson each of said jaws, having portions spaced at least a drum width fromsaid pivot means and cooperating to respectively engage the outersurfaces of two juxtaposed drums; f. means pivoted on said pivot meansfor engaging the surfaces of said juxtaposed cylinders adjacent theirline of tangency; g. a first actuator connected to said support forpivoting said first gripping jaw relative to said support through atleast 30*; and h. a second actuator connected between said firstgripping jaw and said second gripping jaw for pivoting said secondgripping jaw relative to said first gripping jaw to cooperatively engagetwo juxtaposed cylinders between said grippinG members.